WELCOME TO THE KIWANIS MIRACLE LEAGUE AT PRINCIPAL PARK
529 SW 5th, downtown Des Moines (just west of Principal Park)
NOTE TO PLAYERS: Our end-of-the-year Players/Volunteers party on 10/26/08 was great fun. Players received trophies and certificates and pizza, too.
OPENING DAY WAS SEPTEMBER 28
Nearly 400 joined us for special ceremonies and nearly 50 kids played their first game on our new field. Miracles happened with smiles all around. Watch this site for pictures!
Join with us in celebrating the building of Iowa's first Miracle League Field in downtown Des Moines. Our goal is to make the game of baseball within reach of EVERY child, regardless of their abilities. Partnering with the Iowa Cubs and the Greater Des Moines Leadership Class of 2007-08, we're creating a "field of dreams" across from Principal Park, where the Iowa Cubs play. Thanks to a significant gift of $100,000, kids will be playing on the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines Field. And thanks to a significant gift of $111,000 from the Richard O. Jacobson Foundation, we will be building our "phase 2" covered pavillion in late 2008/early 2009.
Our mission is to offer accessible recreational opportunities for children with special needs so that they can participate in a team sport as a member of an organized baseball league. Not only will we provide an opportunity for kids with special needs to play baseball, but we hope to also engage the central Iowa community in our efforts, through financial commitments to the construction of the special facility AND unique volunteer opportunities through our "buddy" system. We cannot change or cure the medical issues life has dealt our children with disabilities. What we can do is provide them with an opportunity to experience the joy and benefits that come from playing our national pastime — baseball! We truly believe that every child deserves a chance to play baseball!
Construction continues at a FAST and FURIOUS pace at our downtown location across from the Iowa Cubs. We were far enough into our construction that we were able to hold opening ceremonies on September 28 and kids got to play 5 games in our "exhibition season", THANKS to the many volunteers who served as buddies, grilled hot dogs, prepared the site for games, and did general clean-up. We will have numerous volunteer opportunities going forward. Please check out the volunteer opportunities on our volunteer page or contact our volunteer coordinator, Joyce Byrne, at joycelbryne@aol.com, if want to be a "buddy" or Tyler Riley, at tylerrr@fehdm.com if you can lend a hand at the site. See details at "VOLUNTEERS NEEDED NOW>"
We continue to need YOUR support! Please consider making a contribution at whatever level you can. (More information is available on our "donations/contribution" page.) And consider volunteering in 2009 (see our "volunteer" page). You'll be glad you did! And THANK YOU.
Here's progress on our site! Concrete walls of the concession/restroom building are up and steel trusses are in place. Since this picture was taken, the blue steel roof is finished. We look just like the Iowa Cubs across the street! Most of the interior painting is done. Electrical and plumbing work is nearly complete; power, sanitation and water are now hooked up. The Musco lights have been turned on and they are brilliant! Watch for laying of the concrete, scoreboard, permanent flag poles, and block entrance to be built soon. AND our specially designed art sculpture by John Brommel will be installed shortly. Many thanks to our MANY "in kind" contributors who are helping to make our field a reality for central Iowa kids.
Now you can view construction progress every week. Just click below to view our progress from week to week!
